Pokemon the Movie 2000 really was free on YouTube, but only for a few weeks in the summer of 2025. The official Pokemon TV channel posted the full film on August 1, 2025, as part of a limited run of the first three movies, and it has since been taken down. The good news is that you can still watch it legally in the US today, including one way that costs nothing.
What happened with the free YouTube release
In 2025, The Pokemon Company started treating its Pokemon TV YouTube channel as a home for classic animation. It uploaded the original Indigo League episodes in batches and then ran a short movie series for fans of the early films:
- July 2025: Pokemon: The First Movie went up for a limited time.
- August 1, 2025: Pokemon the Movie 2000 premiered on the channel with watch along events and dubs in many languages.
- September 5, 2025: Pokemon 3: The Movie took its place.
Each film was only meant to stay up for a short window, and Pokemon the Movie 2000 was gone within weeks. If you search YouTube for it today, you will mostly find clips, trailers, songs and fan uploads, not an official full movie.
Where to watch Pokemon the Movie 2000 in the US now
Free with ads. No subscription needed, works on phones, smart TVs and the web.
Free if your local library supports Hoopla. Sign in with your library card.
Digital rental or purchase through Prime Video, no Prime membership required to buy.
Digital rental or purchase that plays on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.
Free streaming catalogs rotate, so check Tubi before you plan a movie night. If it has left the service, a cheap digital rental is the next best route, and a DVD is still sold for anyone who wants a physical copy.
A quick refresher on the movie
Pokemon the Movie 2000 is the second Pokemon film. It premiered in Japan in 1999 and reached US theaters in the summer of 2000. It runs about 84 minutes and is rated G, so it is an easy pick for families.
The story follows Ash, Pikachu, Misty and Tracey to the Orange Islands, where a wealthy collector named Lawrence III is capturing the legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres. His plan throws the weather and the oceans into chaos and wakes Lugia, the guardian of the sea. Ash is drawn into an island legend about a chosen one who must gather three sacred treasures to restore balance. For many people who grew up with the anime, Lugia and the soundtrack are what they remember most.
Other legal ways to watch Pokemon in the US
The old Pokemon TV app is gone. It was pulled from app stores on January 8, 2024, and the service shut down on March 28, 2024. Today, official Pokemon animation is spread across a few places:
- Pokemon TV on YouTube: free classic episodes uploaded in batches, starting with season 1, plus occasional limited time specials.
- Netflix: the current Pokemon Horizons series streams there in the US, including the 2026 episodes of Pokemon Horizons Season 3: Rising Hope.
- Free ad supported services and digital stores: many older movies and seasons show up on free streaming apps or can be rented and bought individually.
FAQ
Is Pokemon the Movie 2000 still free on YouTube?
No. The official upload was a limited time event that started on August 1, 2025, and it was removed a few weeks later.
Can I watch Pokemon the Movie 2000 for free legally?
Yes. In October 2026 it streams free with ads on Tubi, and you can borrow it free on Hoopla if your library offers it.
Is Pokemon the Movie 2000 on Netflix?
It is not part of the US Netflix lineup right now. Netflix carries the newer Pokemon Horizons series instead.
Will Pokemon put the movies back on YouTube?
The Pokemon Company has not announced a new movie event. It has repeated limited time releases before, so watch the official channel.
The verdict
The free YouTube showing of Pokemon the Movie 2000 is over, but you do not need to pay much, or anything, to see it again. Try Tubi or Hoopla first, rent it if neither works, and keep an eye on the official Pokemon TV channel for the next free event.
Updated October 2026: rewritten to explain the ended YouTube release and list the legal US options to watch Pokemon the Movie 2000 now.
Featured photo: Jay on Unsplash.
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